If it was 1969 and I was the proud owner of a new Corvette, I believe the last thing on my mind would be customizing it. But visions and ideas vary, and that’s exactly what the original owner of this 1969 Chevrolet Corvette had done when the car was brand new. The original buyer must have known that this ‘Vette was going to be something special, as it has been in the same family all this time and the seller is only the car’s second owner. If you’ve been looking for a well-cared-for early C3 and like the idea of a few tasteful modifications, this 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray would be worth a close look. Located in Spokane, Washington, it can be seen here on Craigslist with an asking price of $28,500.
Interestingly, the seller doesn’t give us a laundry list of all the modifications that were made but does say that the customization was professionally done in 1969 when the Corvette was brand new, and to look as good as this car does more than 50 years later it appears that the work was performed to a high standard. One of the more obvious touches is the custom taillights, which may not appeal to purists but they do look pretty slick and blend in well with the rest of the rear end. The car retains its original Monaco Orange color, and the body and paint are looking really sweet from every angle we can see.
The Corvette is an L46 with the 350 cubic inch V8 and has a 4-speed manual transmission, both of which the seller says are original to the car, and also has a 3.70 positraction rear end. The car has had some recent maintenance including a professional tune-up and all of the fluids changed. It also received a new fuel tank, all new U-Joints, a rebuilt alternator, and extensive brake work. There’s also an aftermarket Borgeson power steering conversion installed, and the car is said to run and drive beautifully.
It’s hard to find anything to fault inside, as the interior looks about as good as the exterior. One of the things the seller mentions is that the radio is not original, but that he does still have the factory AM/FM radio which came out of the car when it was customized, and that it’s like new. The seller also says he still has all of the other parts that came off the car. For an extra cost, he also has some other extra parts if the buyer is interested, including Hooker header side pipes, new original 1969 side pipes, plus a few more additional optional items.
This Corvette has only traveled 88,032 miles since new, which the seller says is documented, and the car comes with all of its receipts, registrations, owner’s manual, and even the receipt for the tires that have been on the car since 1977! What are your thoughts on this 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray?
I like this car! Only thing I don’t like is plastic fuel filters hanging around hot exhausts pipes. Decent price on one for a change.
Nice ride, gone already.
The stance on this one is perfect. Looks like the taillights were from a ’69 Camaro?
Or from a firebird
I like it! I agree on the taillights, 69 Camaro RS.
The tail lamps are definitely from the ’69 Camaro RS … looks great on this C3!
Or from a firebird, don’t like em though
In responding to the author I get it why someone would buy a new Vette especially an L48 and want to customize it. Maybe he had insight that the car wouldn’t change at all exterior wise from 68-72 as well as an unusually long production run to 1982……and simply wanted something different.
Have to say what the original owner did looks as good now as it did when it first pounded the street. It is a time stamp of the late 60’s mid 70’s. For the money would be fun.
Good comment. People now seem to forget that “numbers matching” wasn’t important at that time. You did what you liked with your car and didn’t, for the most part, worry about resale value. Good times.
350 – 350 one of Chevys best engines without the headaches of solid lifters and can sing all the way to 6,000 rpm. Hate the mods on this car, but the other updates like the power steering make this a much better driver.
Looks like the wheels lips have been flared.
Beautiful car. Subtle customizing. Seems well worth the money.
The retro wheels
The orange color
The 350/350
The custom touches i see no fault
Its not for me but i can see a lot of good
The 1977 dry , hard , dangerous rubber has to go if you wish to really enjoy this one as it should
Agree. Wouldn’t get it registered for road use in Australia, tyres are outside the guards (fenders).
You the author do not understand why you would customize a 1969 Corvette when new?
Probably because you were not born yet and therefore have no understanding or idea of the mentality of people in 1969. It’s easy to judge today with the reality of what the collector car world have become. In 1969 there with few exceptions was NO SUCH THING as a “Collector Car Market”!
It’s so easy to judge most anything old by today’s standards when you have NO IDEA of what it was like to live during that time.
Should of left the rear end original. those tail lites , in one word rediculous.
I dunno that the tail light treatment is all that bad. Nothing on the original car was round except the tires and the taillights. The mod seems to match the front grill a lot better and goes with the angular rear end.
Reminds me of Tom Daniels’ “California Street ‘Vette”, but without the louvers.
Anyone else remember that one?